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Welcome to Coolasscinema.com! This is a site dedicated to the propagation of strange and exciting cinema (and television) from all over the world as well as America's own grand tradition of exploitation cinema classics. From the front (and back) seats of drive in's across the nation, to the sleaze pit theaters of New York's famed 42nd street, to the comforts of home watching fantastic cinema on the Late Show, remember those classic (and sometimes classless) films of old and even discover some new ones.

Monday, February 28, 2011

This entry of Shaw Brothers Cinema is a bit different. Similar to the three part Fu Sheng article, this one focuses on the fighting females or voluptuous vixens of Shaw Studio. This first one is all about the then 'Queen of Swordplay', Cheng Pei pei. You'll find a lot of behind the scenes photos, some posters and some pictorials of this pioneering and lovely lady. Double click a pic to see a larger image and read English text where applicable.

Born in Shanghai on December 4th, 1946, the future supreme Shaw swordswoman joined the company in 1963. She was an avid dancer and dance instructor. Amidst her busy and hectic schedule, the pretty young actress enjoyed her time working in movies. Pei pei shot to stardom in the film LOVER'S ROCK in 1964.

The same year she took home the Golden Accolade Award for 'Most Promising Newcomer'. She also later took home an award for most popular Mandarin Movie Star alongside other luminaries including Li Ching and Jimmy Wang Yu. She started out appearing in dramas and light hearted fare before embarking on the Wuxia extravaganza that would make her an international sensation.

King Hu's COME DRINK WITH ME (1966), completed in late 1965, was a new approach when compared with the handful of swordplay films that were starting to crop up in growing numbers. King Hu was a respected filmmaker, but his production bumped heads with the vision of studio head, Run Run Shaw. When viewing the film, it would appear to be two different movies at times.

Cheng Pei pei behind the scenes with King Hu (right) on the set of COME DRINK WITH ME.

Having directed SONS OF THE GOOD EARTH (1965), the good notices received King Hu's all new swordplay spectacular wasn't enough to keep him at Shaw Brothers. He packed up and sought directorial ventures elsewhere free of studio constraints. Meanwhile, Cheng Pei pei's star continued to grow.

Promo for THAT FIERY GIRL (1968)

Chang Cheh had scored two huge hits back to back with both THE ONE ARMED SWORDSMAN and THE ASSASSIN (1967), both starring Jimmy Wang Yu. A sequel to COME DRINK WITH ME was decided upon and Chang Cheh was the director to do it. Cheng Pei pei played Golden Swallow in the King Hu classic and that would be the title of the sequel. Despite her character being the main focal point of the film, the bulk of the screen time is payed to Wang Yu's Silver Roc character.

Promo for THE JADE RAKSHA (1969)

Incidentally, Pei pei spent six months in Japan advancing her dance and ballet skills. While there, she participated in location work for both Cheh's GOLDEN SWALLOW and another picture, THE FLYING DAGGER. Both these films were shot in 1967 and released over the course of the next two years.

Behind the scenes on DRAGON SWAMP (1969)

After finishing up with Chang Cheh, the enterprising young actress went on to work for a number of different directors between 1968 and 1970. During this time, she managed to take a month off to head to America in August of 1969 to visit her then fiance, Yuan Wen tung. A little over six months later, Pei pei would leave Shaws to get married. During her brief, but prosperous stint at what was at one time the largest privately owned film studio in the world, Cheng appeared in over 20 films with most of them being lead roles.

Promo for THE SHADOW WHIP (1971)

Cast photo for BROTHERS FIVE (1970), director Lo Wei at far left

Aside from working with directors such as Yueh Feng, Tsu Tseng Hung, Inoue Umetsugu, Pan Lei and Yen Chuan, the actress had a good rapport with Lo Wei, a prolific director who would soon find success with his association with Bruce Lee. Pei pei starred in five films for Lo Wei--THE GOLDEN SWORD (1969), RAW COURAGE (1969), DRAGON SWAMP (1969), BROTHERS FIVE (1970) and THE SHADOW WHIP (1971).

Party after DRAGON SWAMP broke the million dollar mark; right photo is Pei pei with Huang Chun Sun and Chiao Chiao. The two were married, but separated at this time.

Cast photo for SHADOW WHIP

THE SHADOW WHIP (1971)

Cheng also found time to star in three films for Ho Meng Hua, another of Shaw's best directors and most prolific. Her Ho films are some of the most recognizable entries of Wuxia excellence, these being THE JADE RAKSHA (1969), LADY OF STEEL (1970) and THE LADY HERMIT (1971). The latter title is of special interest to most fans of Shaw Brothers motion pictures. It was the last film Cheng Pei pei worked on for Shaw Brothers, but wasn't the last to wrap. Almost immediately after finishing work on THE SHADOW WHIP in March of 1970, Cheng Pei pei was on a plane headed for Los Angeles to marry her college student sweetheart.

A little over a year later, the former actress was lured back into showbusiness by Golden Harvest ambassador, Lau Leung hua who also managed to sign Bruce Lee to a lucrative deal after Shaw Brothers failed to secure the services of the soon to be hot commodity, formerly of the GREEN HORNET television show in America. The acquisition of both Lee and Pei was quite a big deal for Shaws floundering competitor.

Above and below: shooting of THE LADY HERMIT (1971)

Cheng Pei pei didn't make the level of productions she did during her Shaw Brothers days but did appear frequently on screen till she was thrust back into the public eye with a large villainous role in Ang Lee's award winning CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON in 2000. Since the Shaw Brothers restorations in the early part of the new millennium, a renewed interest in her past glories has maintained her status as the premier swordplay Queen of Hong Kong Action Cinema.

This is the third, and concluding chapter for the covers to the Marvel Godzilla comic series from the late 1970s. There's also one back cover that will be of interest to nostalgia buff. I'm missing issue #19, so I got that cover online for completion. During these last few issues, Godzilla is shrunk down to size and ends up battling a sewer rat, battles the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and finally, is transported back to prehistoric times where he meets up with Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy! Double click a pic to see the images in full size.

At top and above are the covers to issues #17 #18 featuring 'The Incredible Shrinking Godzilla' wherein Japan's native atomic son is shrunk down to tiny size by a shrinking gas created by Yellowjacket and must fend off the advances of 'Dum Dum Dugan' and his S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and even a pesky and very hungry rat.

Here's a back cover from one of the last issues of this series. Those who remember the first airings of the original BATTLESTAR GALACTICA will get a kick out of this ad.As noted above, this is the only issue I am lacking so this cover comes from google images.

Issue #20 continues with Godzilla's "shrinkage", but he begins to grow back to normal size from here and is one pissed off radioactive lizard.

Dr. Doom's time machine is employed to send the 'Leapin' Lizard' back to prehistory days where he teams up briefly with Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy, a creation of Jack Kirby which only lasted for 9 issues (I'll be posting all those covers next). Godzilla did the dinosaur for two issues before returning to modern times. Above and below are issues #21 and #22.

Issue #23 sees Godzilla taking on some of Marvel's most famous hero teams such as The Avengers and The Fantastic Four.

Issue #24 is the last, and like this entire series, echoes much of what made the famed film series from Toho so memorable and so much fun. A little boy halts Godzilla's rampage, the great beast then returns to the sea. Throughout this series, other staples of the movie series were employed such as races of evil aliens, the construction of a giant robot to counter Godzilla and other allusions to the film series. Spiderman puts in a cameo appearance in this last issue.

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About Me

I've been a huge movie buff since childhood catching old horror and monster flicks on Shock Theater and kung fu movies at the drive-in during the late 70's and early 80's. I've had a long time fascination with, and appreciate all genres of fantastic cinema, good and bad. One fans cheese is another fans juicy steak. I like both equally and seldom find a film I truly dislike as I will find something of interest in just about anything. The bulk of the films or tv series' seen here are mostly from my childhood, or films I own in what has become an Amazing Colossal DVD collection.